Neighbors Peeved About Stinson Lies

ST. CLOUD — Councilman Gary Stinson's fibs about his educational background were fodder for the neighborhood gristmill Friday, and many residents did not like what they were mulling.

The majority of residents chosen at random and interviewed said Stinson should resign because he falsified his educational and professional information on campaign literature and on his application to serve on the St. Cloud finance committee.

Stinson has admitted he never graduated from college, nor was he president of a professional organization for engineers as he claimed in a campaign flier.

Many residents said they do not mind that Stinson has no college diploma. However, they said they are angry and mistrustful that he was not honest about it.

''You should judge people by what they can do and what they know, not by what their credentials are, because I know a lot of people who are book smart but common-sense dumb,'' said Vikki Blake, a 12-year St. Cloud resident. ''(But) I think he should step down because he did lie about this.''

Others said they did not understand why Stinson would lie about his education, adding that they could not trust what he says any more because of it.

Stinson on Thursday offered an apology, but not an explanation. He could not be reached for comment Friday.

''If he's going to lie about something that dumb, why wouldn't he lie about something bigger - especially if it was for his benefit?'' asked resident Bill Colvin, 44, during a pause from his job repairing a car.

Some residents said Stinson deserves another chance.

''It sounds like he just got caught up in something and that he made a mistake, but it was to an extreme,'' said a St. Cloud resident who didn't want her name used. ''I don't hold that against him. He might be honest in other ways.''

Stinson has even stronger supporters, including many former and current city leaders, such as longtime resident Gordon Dawson.

''There's no law in the city of St. Cloud that says you have to have any education at all,'' said Dawson, a patron at the Sip & Dip doughnut shop.

''It doesn't bother me any more than other St. Cloud politicians who have lied,'' said Dawson, past executive vice president of the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce. ''If he should resign, all of them should resign.''

Dawson's view reflected a cynicism about politics shared by Stinson's detractors and supporters. Many who spoke against Stinson said they view his actions as one more government betrayal.

''It happens at the federal level and it happens at the local level, and people are just fed up with it,'' St. Cloud resident Wayne Conroy said as he finished lunch at Lamar's Bakery & Coffee Shop.

Conroy said he voted for Stinson, who won his first two-year term on the City Council in March, because he sounded knowledgeable, articulate and civic-minded. But Conroy said he wouldn't vote for Stinson again.

''What does this say to the kids in school - especially if they want to get involved in politics?'' Conroy asked.

Six-year St. Cloud resident Peggy Darr agreed.

''I don't have a lot of faith in somebody who's lied to the extent he's lied and then turns around and apologizes,'' Darr said. ''He can kneel down and apologize and beg as far as I'm concerned, but a resignation is the only thing that ought to be accepted.''